In recent years, excessive energy consumption has led to the identification of various factors influencing energy use in buildings and the development of strategies to reduce consumption. One of the key factors affecting energy consumption in buildings is the building envelope, including windows and openings. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the impact of shading devices on cooling and heating energy consumption in the buildings of a university complex. The selected case study is the buildings of the National Skill College for Girls in Babol. Energy consumption for cooling and heating in these buildings was analyzed by considering the presence of shading devices, optimizing conditions, and keeping other building specifications constant, using a genetic algorithm process.

The overall findings of this research indicate that cooling energy consumption peaks in July and August, during which the presence of shading devices can significantly reduce energy usage. Moreover, the optimization results revealed that the optimal angle for shading devices to achieve maximum energy reduction in the studied buildings is approximately 63 degrees. Another key finding of the study highlights that implementing shading devices on the southern façade of the buildings results in greater energy savings compared to other façades.